UT Depth Chart released

QB - Garrett Gilbert

Case McCoy

Connor Wood

RB - Cody Johnson

Tre Newton

Fozzy Whitaker

Vondrell McGee

Chris Whaley

WR - Marquise Goodwin

James Kirkendoll

John Chiles

Malcolm Williams

Mike Davis

DJ Monroe

Darius White

DeSean Hales

Greg Timmons

TE - Barrett Matthews

Greg Smith

Blaine Irby

OL - Michael Huey

Mason Walters

David Snow

Kyle Hix

Britt Mitchell

DE - Sam Acho

Eddie Jones

Jackson Jeffcoat

Dravannti Johnson

DT - Kheeston Randall

Alex Okafor

Tyler Higgins

Ashton Dorsey

De'Aires Cotton

LB - Emmanuel Acho

Dravannti Johnson

Dustin Earnest

Jared Norton

Jordan Hicks

CB - Curtis Brown

Aaron Williams

Chykie Brown

Carrington Byndon

AJ White

S - Christian Scott

Blake Gideon

Aaron Williams

Nolan Brewster

Demarco Cobbs

Kenny Vaccaro

Ben Wells

P - John Gold

K - Justin Tucker

Game Week

College football officially gets under way this week, and for the first time since 1995 (@ Hawaii) Texas opens on the road, although Texas vs. Rice at Reliant Stadium in Houston will be a de facto home game for the Horns. BurntOrangeRadio is excited to watch the offense and see just how much of a makeover it has gotten, and to focus on Garret Gilbert's poise and command.

We *might* debut BOR's first podcast next week to recap the opener, but for now we are sticking with a 9/13 debut date, when we will inaugurate the podcast season with a mega-recap of the first two UT games.

Stay tuned, and Hook 'em Horns!

(and for no other reason than we love the guy, here are some Jamaal Charles UT highlights)

Welcome one and all!!

So first of all, welcome Longhorn fan and foe, we gather here again on the cusp of fall for another glorious football season, the true religion of America. Let us rejoice!! I am very optimistic this year for the Longhorns chances but am attempting to keep those emotions bottled up until I see Garrett Gilbert and the new look Texas Offense in action. Lets call it a "wait and See" approach, like watching Tiger in a major, post debacle. Damn, I thought I could make it a little longer before my first cliche sports reference. Well at least I didn't mention Favre. Wait a minute. Damn!!

But yes football again. Texas!!!! Fight!!!! at the stadium, Bevo doped up in the corner of the end zone, and hopefully, Texas back in the BCS and repeating as BIG XII Champs!

I think with a great defense like the one Texas has as our identity and backbone, we can overcome the woes of a first year QB. Additionally I think Gilbert might just be "the truth" (a little street term often used to describe someone who just ain't scared easily). His eyes don't blow up like dinner plates, his breath stays even like a metronome, he wins and remains hungry. I believe this to be the ultimate intangible quality that defines leadership and whether or not the masses will follow. Texas, finally, might be one of the only schools with a guy like that. Ohio State has one, Kellen Moore at Boise State is a gamer but "Double G" will prove to be right there with em'.

So ultimately I am still old school. I look to the leadership and the defense of a football team to determine the value when I can't yet go on wins and losses. Texas is on the short list of teams with both great leadership in Garrett Gilbert and Mack Brown, as well as great defense in Will Muschamp and his system.

I am happy to be excited but with uncharacteristically low expectations. Usually I am "Title Or Bust" but I can appreciate the cycles of college football, and the constant building and re-building of a program. Right now from the outside looking in we are re-building and I am aware of that. But if this crop of kids is special (and they might be), then this year could build up just fine. Cant wait to see it all!! Go Texas!! Hook 'Em!!!

Either way be sure to check in with myself, Zack, and my brother Shane at Burnt Orange Radio for the podcasts and blogs related to Texas, College Football, the NFL and much more...

Texas will be better in 2010

Mel Kiper, like most media, thinks Texas will take a step back this season, citing the loss of McCoy and Shipley. This is the default position on the Horns going into this season, as the loss of a prolific QB-WR duo presents challenges to any team, particularly when said duo was the most productive in program history.

However, we believe the Texas offense will slowly grow into a more balanced and yes, more productive (or at least more efficient) unit this season. Gilbert will need a few weeks to find his rhythm, but he has the luxury of time since the nation's best defense will keep the pressure off. By October 2, Gilbert will have become comfortable in this offense and confident in his ample weapons at WR and RB, having cut his teeth in games against both Tech and UCLA.

By eliminating the high-risk/low-reward short passes of the shotgun-spread offense employed under Colt, Gilbert will be throwing fewer balls into dangerous windows and instead will rely on more hand-offs and playaction passes downfield. Effectively, this will be a lower-risk/higher reward offense, perfect for a first-year starter who can be patient knowing he has a stellar defense to support his learning curve.

In the end, the 2010 Texas offense will prove more productive in both scoring and efficiency, which will lead to Texas being better overall in 2010 due to the improved defense. However, the schedule is much more difficult this season than last, so an improved overall team from the '09 runners-up does not necessarily mean Texas will win the '10 national title. Texas indeed can win the championship this year, but it is going to need a few breaks as well as use its best performances against its toughest opponents (OU and Nebraska), something it did not do last season.

Malcolm Brown

Is this the future? We've been suckered into believing the insane hype of UT running back recruits many times over, however, we're inclined to believe that the Cibolo Steele product is indeed the truth. As the Garrett Gibert bids adieu to the successful Greg Davis shotgun spread as its core attack and moves to a more traditional and pro-style balanced attack, a player like Malcolm Brown may be just the kind of back who can exploit a larger commitment to downhill running.

Coming this Fall...

Shane and Zack, also known as "los hermanos guapos" and "les brahs," will be recording weekend podcast recaps of UT football games (with some noteworthy NFL commentary), as well as mid-week UT and college football preview discussions.

Stay tuned to this blog for links to our UT podcasts.

There will also be links to occasional miscellaneous and off-topic cultural observation podcasts, though at this time we have little idea as to what shape these will take.

In the meantime, follow us on twitter:

www.twitter.com/the_daner

www.twitter.com/burntorangezack

And this video is in honor of my signing up for twitter (finally):